Solar evaporator.



No. 737,551. 7 PATENTED AUG. 25, 1903; J. B. BLANCHARD.

SOLAR EVAPORATOR.

APPLIOATION mum mm: 17. 1903.

no MODEL. 2 sums-ram. 1.

vwemtoz Mme/13 w: mam: puns cow 5HOTQ-UTHO, WASHINGTON, u. c

PATENTED AUG. 25, 1903,

J. B. BLANGHARD. SOLAR EVAPORATOR. APPLIOATION FILED mm: 17. 1903.

2 SHBETSSHBET 2.

no MODEL.

a der/$4011 Patented August 25, 1903.

PATE T OFFICE.

JEROME B. BLANCHARD, OF DENVER, COLORADO. I

SOLAR EVAPORATOR.

fiPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,551, dated August25, 1903.

Application filed June 17,1903. Serial No. 161,919. (No model.)

To all who/:2, it ifl/ by concern.-

Be itknown that I, JEROME B. BLANCHARD, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing in the city and county of Denver and State ofColorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SolarEvaporators; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to means for the evaporation of water by solarheat.

The special object which I have in view for the utilization of theinvention is the production of salt in a finely-disintegratedcondition,whereby the expense incident to grinding the crystallizedproduct, as is required when evaporation is effected under ordinaryconditions, is avoided.

Myimproved apparatus consists of a tower upon which is mounted a tank orreservoir connected with a stand-pipe through which salt water may bepumped into the tank. This tank is provided with a depending outletleading to aline of spray-nozzles, from which water is dischargeddownwardly in a finelyatomized condition in front of arefiectingsurface,whereby the spray is subjected to the heating actionof both the direct and reflected solar rays. In this manner thefinely-atomized water is evaporated and the salt is precipitated in afinely-disintegrated condition. The spray pipe is in communication withanother pipe through which air or steam may be forced to facilitate theatomizing function when the pressure from the storage-tank is notsufficient to accomplish the desired result.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, as well as the objectsto be attained thereby, I will proceed to describe the same in detail,reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which isillustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view of my improved solar evaporatingapparatus. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same or a View taken in thedirection of the arrow in Fig. 1.

The same reference charactersindicate the same parts in both views.

Let the numeral 5 designate a suitable upright frame or supportuponwhich is mounted a tank 6, into which the saltwater is pumped by way ofa stand-pipe 7. This stand-pipe is connected with apumping-engine 8.Connected with the lower portion of the tank 6 at or near its bottom isa depending outletpipe 9, provided with a valve 10 for regulating thequantity of the discharge from the tank. Connected with the lowerextremity of this pipe is a horizontally-arranged pipe.

12, provided with a series of spray-nozzles 13. This spray-nozzle pipeis supported in front of the upper part of a reflecting-surface 14,composed of any suitable material, as polished metal. Thisreflecting-surface should be advantageously arranged or positioned toreceive the rays of the sun. Connected with the pipe 9 just above thespraypipe is another pipe 15, which may be utilized for delivering airor steam to the spraypipe, whereby the atomizing of the water isfacilitated. This pipe 15 is provided with a controlling-valve 16. Thetop of the storagetank is preferably closed hermetically in order toprevent the possibility of the escape of the air or steam under pressureby way of the tank.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of the apparatuswill be readily understood. The salt water spray being directeddownwardly in front of the reflectingsurface, the liquid being in afinely-atomized condition, is evaporated and taken up by the atmosphere,while the salt contained in the water is precipitated and falls into asuitable receptacle or upon a suitable support placed in front of thereflecting-surface. The tank 6 may be elevated to any height that may befound necessary in order to insure complete evaporization of the watersprayed downwardly in front of the reflecting-surface, as heretoforeexplained.

Attentionis called to the fact that the atomized jets issuing from thespray-nozzles may be directed upwardly instead of downwardly,

if desired' The upward direction of the said jets may be preferable,since to this extent the water will be elevated and its downwardmovement thus to some extent retarded, since, as heretofore explained,it is necessary that the water shall be sufficiently elevated to givethe rays of the sun acting thereon sufficient time to completelyevaporate the liquid.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1.. In a solarevaporator, the combination .of a reflecting-surface, and means fordelivering water in a spray or finely-atomized condition, in front ofthe said surface, whereby it is subjected to the evaporating influenceof the direct and reflected solar rays.

2. The combination with a tank or storagereservoir suitably elevated, aspray-pipe connected with the tank, and a reflecting-surface located inthe rear of the spray issuing from the spray-pipe.

3. The combination with a reservoir or storage-tank, of an outletleading downwardly from the said tank, a spray-pipe connected with thesaid outlet, and a reflecting-surface located in the rear and insuitable proximity to the spray-pipe.

4. The combination with a suitable support, a storage-tank mountedthereon, a supply-pipe connected with the tank, an outletpipe alsoconnected with the .tank, a spraypipe connected with the outlet-pipe, areflecting-surface located in the rear of the spraypipe and a pipe'fordelivering air orsteam to the spray-pipe, to facilitate the atomizing ofthe liquid.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JEROME B. BLANCHARD.

Witnesses:

DENA NELSON, A. J. OBRIEN.

